New pavilion set to revolutionise sport in West Lothian

A £1.5 million project to upgrade sporting facilities for Blackburn United Community Football Club is nearing completion.

The New Murrayfield Park Pavilion project comprises the construction of a new changing pavilion as well as a new floodlit, seven-a-side 3G synthetic pitch and an 11-a-side grass pitch. Once complete, the pavilion will include six changing rooms, referee changing facilities and a community club.

West Lothian Council has invested £1.15 million in the project, with an additional £400,000 of funding provided by Sportscotland’s Sports Facility Fund.

Ashwood Scotland is the main contractor on the project, whilst leading architectural practice Lewis & Hickey Architects is providing all architectural services.

A spokesperson for West Lothian Council, said:

“The £1.5 million project will provide a local sporting hub for the community of Blackburn and the development of opportunities for participation in physical activity, volunteering and diversionary programmes. It will also assist the further development of Blackburn United in providing opportunities for young children to participate in community sport and adopt an active and healthy lifestyle from an early age.”

Chief Executive for Sportscotland, Stewart Harris, said:

“Sportscotland has a strong relationship with West Lothian Council and we are delighted to be working closely with them on this jointly-funded development and provide our experience in designing and constructing infrastructure projects.

“This is an exciting project that significantly improves sporting facilities and their accessibility for people in Blackburn and the surrounding areas, which is why our Sports Facility Fund is providing £400,000.”

Once work is complete on the project, the new facilities will mark the culmination of years of hard work by Blackburn United to provide the best services possible to young players.

Blackburn United Chairperson, Ian McGinty, commented:

“With upwards of 140 boys and girls being coached each week by the football club, this much needed improvement in our facilities will help continue to develop our presence in West Lothian.”

Ian added:

“They will provide a base from which our absolute determination to create a well coached player pathway into adulthood can flourish. In offering a new, safe and caring sporting environment we hope to encourage more youngsters to the club and hope to encourage parents to the wider community to become engaged with and involved in what we are attempting to achieve here in Blackburn.”

Lewis & Hickey Architects Project Architect, Stewart Graham, said:

“It is very important for Lewis & Hickey Architects to be involved with this project for West Lothian Council. We have worked with the Council on a number of community-based projects, such as this one, and it is always great to know that you are working towards something which will enhance and serve the local community.

“We have completed work on similar projects to this – such as Dalkeith Pavilion for Midlothian Council – which has given us a great understanding of creating a modern sporting facility.

“For Blackburn United Community Football Club the creation of this new facility will be well received. The Football Club is an integral part of the community, so the creation of the pavilion will strengthen what the club already has to offer and will provide facilities for junior players and the public.”

Stewart added:

“The New Murrayfield Park Pavilion will become an iconic building within the community which everyone will be able to relate to.”

The New Murrayfield Park Pavilion project is currently on schedule and is due for completion in early 2013. For more information about the project’s progress please visit: www.westlothian.gov.uk.